Beyond, aka London’s biggest afterhours experience, first ignited the gay scene with its funked-up early morning soundtrack when it was born in Club Colosseum in Vauxhall, before moving across to Area. With the Albert Embankment strip set for redevelopment, the weekly Sunday morning event has evolved once more by taking over the arches of the recently refurbished Fire, breathing new life into the club beast that doesn’t like to sleep. Over the August Bank Holiday weekend things get naughty as Beyond delivers a sexed-up session of sounds featuring DJ favourites and a hot new horny look for the gogo hunks on the podiums direct from NYC in the USA courtesy of Slick It Up. QX spoke to promoter Nadim Aoun…
It’s Beyond ‘Obsession’ over the Bank Holiday weekend. What are you giving us to get obsessed about?
Beyond’s been renowned in 2014 for its special events. The April Bank Holiday and Pride weekend simply took things to a whole other level, with huge amounts of people saying it was their favourite party of the weekend.
And the costumes we see on the cover have come all the way from the USA?
They have! Courtesy of a special collaboration with Slick It Up, New York’s coolest brand, we will be providing you with simply the hottest stage show Beyond has ever seen. Dancers are flying over directly from Spain for this one, not to mention London’s finest as well!
Which DJs are we going to be shaking our asses to?
One of my all-time favourites Ben Manson of Scream Paris is joined by the one and only Steve Pitron, possibly the greatest DJ the London gay scene has the honour of calling theirs. They will be joined by Maze & Masters, Terry Vietheer and more… we’re pulling out all the stops with this one.
Beyond ‘Obsession’ leads into Matinée… the last party at Ministry was sensational. How’s this one shaping up?
This one is going to be even more epic, with extra rooms and bigger production being added. Ministry is such an amazingly flexible venue that ‘bigger and better’ is achievable with every party.
It’s good to see the Beyond terrace fun being kept more than alive at Fire. For those that haven’t seen the recent refurbishment, tell them what they have to look forward to?
We have an entire new outdoor terrace, fully covered and very comfortable. If you’re lucky you’ll catch the music from the club being piped into the ‘lodge’ – as we call the terrace – as well!
What’s next from Beyond for us to look forward to in the coming weeks?
On Saturday the 6th September we have the legend that is Rebeka Brown in town for a very special live PA. It doesn’t get much bigger than that. Of course, there is much more coming up as well as our philosophy of no two weeks being the same is still very much alive.
Top 5 BEYOND Survival Tips
Secure all loose articles of clothing firmly
Listen, we won’t bore you with the amount of vests/t-shirts/underwear we’ve lost while out raving. But if you’re gonna strip off – as you do when you’re a fine hot disco mess like us – tie that shit round your belt loop, and tie it TIGHT, gurl!
Undress to impress
Speaking of being a “sweaty mess” it’s probably best to go dressed like a slut in the first place – unless you’re already pumped full of Botox of course, in which there ain’t no sweating happenin’. And besides, turning up in a shirt – against all those string vests – will make you stand out like Calista Flockhart at a pie-eating contest.
Watch that (podium) space
Beyond serve androgynous, yet sexy stage shows like no other. So, if you’re being tapped on the shoulder by some queen and shooed off the podium – don’t pull out her weave just yet, she works here.
Take it outside
It’s all about the new look outdoor chill space slash smoking terrace/lodge. OK, so no – we’re not actually encouraging you to take up smoking (among a plethora of other bad habits you already have) but whether you’re a smoker or not, the outdoor space is the place to be. It’s where you meet the fiercest bitches.
Be a water carrier
Water is essential, simple. It’s especially essential when you’re drinking and dancing for hours on end. Let’s put it this way, “thirsty bitch” is not a good look. And neither is having your tongue stuck to the side of your mouth.
• Beyond is Fire (39 Parry Street, Vauxhall, SW8 1RT) every Sunday morning, 4am-superlate. Beyond Obsession: A Fetish Seduction is on Bank Holiday Sunday 24th August.
